How To Find a Sponsor

Sooo, you have decided to pursue the art of falconry. You have found
that USF&WS Regs require you to find a sponsor and undergo an apprenticeship.
You might consider the following guidelines in finding a sponsor.

A. Before going any further be sure you have a basic idea of the commitment
to a raptor you will be taking on. Try reading Getting
Started from this website.

B. Next, telephone your state's
Fish and Game Department and request their falconry regulations, applications,
and any related material including their small game regulations for hunting.

C. If you have never had a hunting license, you will have to inquire
about your state's requirements for acquiring a hunting license. It may
entail taking a hunter safety course, and firearms handling skills. Do this
early because classes typically are limited and infrequent. It doesn't matter
if you never intend to hunt with a gun.

Next, read the falconry and hunting regs. This is important because now
when you engage in conversation with falconers you won't sound like you
don't know anything. You must understand the legal issues of this sport
to practice it.

The following step is to educate yourself in falconry. Now it's going
to start costing you money. You need to buy a few books. See the Suggested
reading list in the section about Getting Started
in falconry. Your local library may have them, but I doubt it. You will
need these books to study from for your falconry exam. You will also need
a book that identifies raptor species and their typical habitat and range.
Some states will allow you to take the falconry exams before you find a
sponsor, if so do it, and pass it. Nevertheless, read the books, all of
them; know something, and proceed with the next step.

Next is to get socially involved with falconers. To do this, start inquiring
with your state's falconry clubs. A list of club addresses can be found
below. Contact them. Ask them if there are any falconers that can take you
out and show you the sport. Don't ask if there are any falconers that will
sponsor you yet; the answer is "no". They need to get to know
you. They need to find out if you are genuinely interested. Ask to go to
their picnics, game dinners, demo flights, etc. Ask to join their club and
get their newsletters. You then will find yourself out with falconers flying
their birds, finding out if falconry is for you. Go to the events and let
people know you are looking for a sponsor. You will then find one, no problem.

Sounds like a lot of work? That's because it is a lot of work. Falconry
is demanding. It's similar to having field trial dogs, or show horses, etc.
If all this sounds like to much hassle, you don't have what it takes to
be a falconer, so don't try. Falconers do not want the casually interested
in our sport because those types of people end up giving us a bad reputation.
Those types typically neglect their birds or have trouble with the law.
If I was your sponsor the things in this article are exactly what I'd have
you do. Oh, there is one other thing you can try, there is a falconry school
in Vermont, you can go there to find out if you like handling raptors and
get exposer, for a fee of course. So, here is the approximate investment
so far, not including your time:

Falconry Books

$100-200

Hunting Course NRA

$100

Hunting license (small game)

$ 25

Local Falconry Club Dues

$ 25

NAFA Dues

$ 35

Phone calls, postage, fuel to demos

$ 50

These are average figures, and will very from state to state.

Still interested? Getting the picture? When you find a sponsor, then
you'll need the equipment. You need to build a Hawk Mews, which could run
$1000 just for materials.

If you do all this and let your local club know you are interested and
need a sponsor, they will help you find one. If they don't, ask them if
there is something about your application they have a problem with. Write
us and we will ask them for you , if they have a problem with you, lets
fix it and proceed.

Have fun, and know falconry is the best field sport known to man. Good
luck!